of those mentioned, the most important in modern linguistics is noam
chomsky. his theory of syntax revolutionized linguistics in 1955 and he is
the authority on the subject. his theory of a universal grammar basically
says we are innately wired for language (not to be misunderstood as wired
for a specific language.) i would also examine the work of Steven Pinker
(he and chomsky hail from MIT), whose two major works are "how the mind
works" and "the language instinct." i'm not very much familiar with
chomsky's research (he seems to be along the lines of a philospher) but
pinker has done a lot of research, especailly involving language acquisition
in children. good luck.

salvador wilcox
(hoping for a dr. in linguistics in pittsburgh)

>From: Frankland <frankland>>To: artedsnet <artsednet.edu>>Subject: RE: Right Side of Brain and Semiotics>Date: Sat, 01 May 1999 19:34:08 -0500>>>I believe semiotics is the philosophical branch of applied linguistics.>A few names come to mind although I can't say whether they are the>'founders' - Roland Barthes, Jacques Derrida, Michel Foucault and Jean>Baudrillard. I believe Noam Chomsky is also a person you may be>interested in reading. His research regarding language and meaning is>quite interesting. He is responsible for the theory of the 'language>acquisition device' - that there is a certain 'switch' in the brain that>is triggered at a certain time - that then becomes atrophied to some>extent as a person gets older.>>Vicky in Michigan>>

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